The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-06-18
JERoME,s ADVENTURE.

Placed In Cage OF HIS Fathers Menagerie
with the Panther and the Lioness-He
Saved the Circus.
Once upon time there was a man
who kept menagerie, and in it were
several great animals and some smaller
ones. f
This man who owned the mehagerie,
or travelling geological garden, was
kind; so was his wife. They had one
little child, boy; and at the time Of
my story this child was two years old,
or thereabouts--a fine. chubby little
boy, who was pleased with the animals
and birds, and would laugh and chat
with them in his own little way until
even the mischievous monkeys were
glad to see him.
The menagerie travelled through the
country. 1t was in France. People
came to see the performing elephant
and the other creatures, and watched
little Jerome ride Hercules-that was
the elephant name-and play few
tricks.
l have told you that the man who
owned the menagerie was good and
kind. So he was, but he had enemies,
and one enemy in particulars lazy,
idle man. who had once owned this
very menagerie, who was too idle and
cruel to keep it. So he sold the animals,
and spent the money in idleness. But
when he saw how well the other man
was getting on, how much money he
was making, how the animals liked him,
and when he remembered that he HIM
self could never do this, he got very
angry. He was greedy and jealous; he
did not want to work, yet he wanted
money. and was angry with Jerome's
father for making success of what he
(Maltait) only failed in. This Maltait
said he would be .srevenged."
What do you think he didP It was .
bad, wicked action, and only cruel
man would have thought Of such a
thing. He printed bills, and let all the
people know that on q certain day, in
a certain town. Mr.. Bonnet's little son
would go into the panther's den, and
sit there. Do you know why he said
this? Because said he to himself,
ga great number of people will come to
see the show, and / am sure Bonnet viii
not let his boy 60 into the cage. Then
the people WILDE angry. and pull down
the show, perhaps, or do some damage.
When the menagerie reached the
town, Mr.. Bonnet, Jerome's father,
was very much surprised to see the bills
saying that his dear little Jerome would
60 into the cage, with the lioness and
the panther. which lived together, and
sit with the savage beasts. His wife
was in terrible way. She cried, and
begged her husband to find out who
had done such wicked thing. The
people were rough, and liked rough
scenes. They wanted to see the little
boy in the cage, and even il the panther
tore him they would not have cared!
The menager:e VAS fixed up; an the
with the cages were arranged
IS usual. and early in the afternoon
great crowd of rough men came, ana
women and children, to see little Je-
rome in the cage. Mrs. Bonnet wanted
10 tell the people it was . mistake, but
her husband said: They win tear MS
to pieces, perhaps, or burn the MENACE
rie in their disappointment. / must
See what / can do.
The people came in and crushed
about Mr.. Bonnet = had fed
the animals, and 2 they were
quiet. Hercules, !" the elephant,
walked about, Jerome played his
pranks, and then the people began to |
call out for the scage trick" as they
said. Mr.. Bonnet made them speech. |
BE said he had not printed the bills,
md it was done without his knowledge.
Il had been done by some enemy, who |
would be punished, no doubt, some |
lay. But il the people insisted ''
Eyes! yesr' they insisted. He must
put the child in the cage! x,is.fss' Is' |
Then Mr.. Bonnet got very |
'aint. He did not dare refuse.
ind yet his heart was lad. His |
lear little son might be torn in pieces.
,ut he must do as the people said Or |
he whole menagerie might BE- destroy
ID. So he said: every weIl ladies !
md gentlemen; for to-day only I win !
,ermit this, and then / viii iInd ont |
he man who has tried 70 ruin me, and |
uvsla hoxxn h;sr,, v,s~v>s-h ~ ~ - .r,4a i<tI